Greeks in Zimbabwe

Greek Zimbabweans (Greek: Έλληνες της Ζιμπάμπουε) comprise about 2,500 people of Greek origin, almost half of them from the island of Cyprus.[1] Zimbabwe currently hosts eleven Greek Orthodox churches and fifteen Greek associations and humanitarian organizations.[2]

Zimbabwean Greeks
Έλληνες της Ζιμπάμπουε
Regions with significant populations
Harare
Languages
English, Greek
Religion
Greek Orthodox Church
Zimbabwe

History

The Greek community in Zimbabwe numbered between 13,000 and 15,000 people in 1972 but following the deterioration of Zimbabwe's domestic and financial situation has been reduced to a fraction of its former size.[1] The country's highest-scoring flying ace of World War II, John Plagis, was the son of Greek immigrants from the island of Lemnos.[3]

Present situation

The local Greek community and Greece itself are active in the field of humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.[4] Apart from a few landowners and businesspeople the majority of Greeks in the country are occupied in trade and other activities that contribute considerably to the country's economy.[1] There are Greek communities in various cities in the country,[2] including Bulawayo, Mutare, Gweru and Harare where the local community has been operating a Greek school since 1954.[1] The Archbishopric of Zimbabwe and Southern Africa is under the jurisdiction of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria.[2]

Notable people
  • Ioannes Antoniades, Greek Mayor of Gwelo (today Gweru) (born in Othos of Karpathos island, 1864)
  • Mario Frangoulis, Greek singer (born 1967, from Kasos island)
  • John Plagis, Flying Ace in the Royal Air Force (1919–1974, from Lemnos island)
  • Sabrina, Greek singer (born 1969)
  • Aravella Simotas, American politician (born 1978)
  • John Traicos, Zimbabwe & South African test cricketer (born 1947, from Lemnos & Kalymnos islands)
  • George Zambellas, Chief of the Naval Staff of the Royal Navy (born 1958, from Castellorizo island)

References
  1. Hellenic Republic: Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Zimbabwe: The Greek Community Archived May 7, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa Archived 2013-05-25 at WebCite Holy Archbishopric of Zimbabwe
  3. Shores, Christopher F; Williams, Clive (1966). Aces High: the Fighter Aces of the British and Commonwealth Air Forces in World War II. London: Neville Spearman Publishing. p. 73. OCLC 654945475.; Charousis, Chariton (December 2010). Έλληνες Άσσοι σε Συμμαχικές Αεροπορίες κατά το Β΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο [Greek Aces in Allied Air Forces in World War II] (PDF). Aviation Review (in Greek). Athens: Hellenic Air Force: 114–127. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. Greeks 'strongly behind' Zimbabwe Archived August 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
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